LAURUS NOBILIS (Bay leaf)

LAURUS NOBILIS (   ), this perennial tree original from Asia ....

Scientific Name and Family

Laurus nobilis - Lauraceae -

Other names

Laurel,

Description

Laurus nobilis (Bay leaf) is a perennial plant that grows between 30 and 45 cm, and blossoms between July and August. It has a yellow bright flattened corolla rich on essential oils composed of anthemic acids and tannins, with certain beneficial properties for the treatment of some affections.

The white petals of Roman Chamomile are thicker than the petals from the other chamomile variety, the German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), which petals are also white but thinner and longer, having also a flattened yellow corolla, differing from the raised corolla of Roman Chamomile.

Active constituents

Anthemic acids, tannins, apigenin, coumarins, farnesol, luteolin, chamazulene.

Traditional medicinal use

Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) has been used since more than two thousand years ago to treat menstrual problems, gall bladder, fevers, inflammations, gastrointestinal disorders, as an relaxing infusion and as antiseptic.

One of its active constituents, apigenin, is a flavonoid believed to have some influence over the mild sedative effects claimed by this herb. In recent scientific studies, this flavonoid, apigenin, was found to also act as an anti-inflammatory agent [2]. The National Toxicology Program from the US Government cited in one of its articles[3]:

Pure apigenin is used primarily in research as a protein kinase inhibitor that may suppress tumor promotion and that has anti-proliferating effects

Side effects and precautions

See disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

REFERENCES:

[1] PUBMED.